|
Shree
Kanji Odhavji,
affectionately known as Hindocha Bapa,
had a strong desire and longing to remove social ills like
poverty, deprivation and other miseries prevalent among the
people of his community.
|
|
|
He
visualised a beautiful dream of the unity of his community
people and worked relentlessly till the roots of Lohana
Mahaparishad were established in December 1910. This was
achieved by hard work of nearly 10 years and visiting 936
villages.
After its establishment, they have held meetings regularly and
have started progressive movements in the community. About 50
Bal ashram and Bali ashrams were established all over in Kutchchh,
Saurashtra, Gujarat & Mumbai. There was an
extremely enthusiastic response from the people who are
scattered all over the world. Just as the movement was catching
momentum and the desire of the Lohana to do something for the
community was getting more widely spread, many untimely things
happened all over the world - two world
wars, independence movement in India, division of our country.
In those uncertain times, there was not much scope for organized
caste activities.
Just as everything was coming to a stand still, another
visionary took things into his hands. His
name is Shri Chhaganlal Karamshi Parekh, known affectionately as
Chhaganbapa. He took up the mammoth task to
organize an all-embracing institution named now as Shri
Lohana Maha Parishad.
The first historic Adhivashan
(convention) of Shri Lohana Maha Parishad took place in Mumbai
in 1952, under the leadership of Late Shri Nanji Kalidas
Mehta. People's enthusiasm at this Adhivashan knew no
bounds. And people came to revive their own Parishad as Maha
Parishad, which was then onwards known as SHREE
LOHANA MAHAPARISHAD.
After this, there was no looking
back. As Longfellow said, " All your strength is in your
union. All your danger is in discard." We are forever
united in the Lohana Maha Parishad.
|
